Page 24 - Oundle Life April 2021

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THE TALBOT
Historic Coaching Inn splendour...
Dorota Metselaar
is Deputy General Manager of The Talbot Hotel in New Street. The building is of such exceptional architectural and historical importance that it is classified as a Grade I heritage building by Historic England, placing
it among the top three per cent of all listed buildings in England. In this issue of Oundle Life, Dorota tells us about her life, working in this beautiful coaching inn.
When did The Talbot become part of the Coaching Inns Group? The Talbot Hotel was taken over in 2009, following an extensive consultation period with English Heritage. Then the Grade 1 listed building was closed in
September 2011 for a detailed refurbishment programme. The refurbishment included redesigning bedrooms, the building of the courtyard conservatory, creating the main eatery dining room, installing stairs out of
the secret room, and much more! The hotel reopened in June 2012. The result is a beautiful hotel which retains the original charm and character that saw travellers keen to visit as far back as 500 years ago!
What’s your favourite feature of the Hotel?
It has to be our famous staircase, said to have come from Fotheringhay Castle and to have been the staircase down which Mary Queen
of Scots was escorted to her execution in the palace’s great hall in 1587. Notwithstanding that, experts suggest the staircase was almost certainly constructed in the 1600s. The tradition has been maintained, promoted and enhanced by reports of the queen’s ghostly presence on the stair.
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